Introduction

This lab, under Professor Tristan L'Ecuyer, is focused on looking at far infrared radiation at the poles. The measurement of far-infrared radiation, wavelengths above 15 microns, has not been systematically measured, especially in the poles where it accounts for over 50% of emitted radiation. Earlier this year two 6U CubeSats under the PREFIRE name were launched into sun-synchronous orbits. They have sensors that can study radiation from 15 to 54 microns. The aim of looking at the data from these satellites is to get a better understanding on how differing conditions at the poles change the amount of far-infrared radiation. Since the poles radiate more energy than they receive via radiation, understanding how it changes is important in creating a complete and accurate climate model. I will work with both telemetry data in the satellites to understand how heat is transferred and affects the reading taken. I will also analyze data between the Antarctic Ice Shelf and Greenland Ice Shelf to see how they differ.